Structural characterization of a soluble and partially folded class I major histocompatibility heavy chain/beta 2m heterodimer.

Class I major histocompatibility (MHC) heavy chain (HC) must fold and assemble with beta 2 microglobulin (beta 2m) prior to binding peptides in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Each of these events is mediated by association with chaperones and other proteins and is an essential requirement for the maturation and normal cell surface expression of stable class I MHC-peptide complexes. Here we describe the biochemical and structural characterization of a soluble HC (B*0702)/beta 2m heterodimer, apparently free of peptide. Results suggest that the peptide binding domains (alpha 1 and alpha 2) of this folding intermediate are unstable and possess many of the properties ascribed to the molten globule state. The partially folded state of the HC/beta 2m heterodimer is consistent with the suggestion that it is stabilized by chaperones and other proteins in the ER. This soluble intermediate may be useful for studying protein-assisted folding and peptide binding of class I MHC molecules.